I’m a bit lost as I thought that the number of A3/4 food and drink licenses was only allowed up to a certain quota in order not to saturate a confined area such as Brixton ? How can Brixton Bar and Grill apply to turn the old ‘ The Baron ‘ menswear Unit originally at 23 Atlantic Road into a A3 Unit from a A1 ?

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The government undermined local planning by changing the rules. "Permitted Development Rights" since 2015 allow change of use to A3 from retail use.

Owner still has to put in planning application for things like ventilation etc. But change of use is ok under Permitted Development Rights.

More to the point is the grey area between A3 and late night drinking entertainment.

The Chip Shop is example.

Once the offices of Brixton Cultural Archives. When they moved change of use to take away. Chip shop came as restaurant. Got drinks license. Basically operates as a music / drinks establishment but technically still a chip shop. Which is of course bollox.

In reality the local residential community has little real say in how the neighborhood develops. Even less now Brixton BID runs Brixton in partnership with Lambeth Council.

Lack of democratic oversight and community say has increased in Brixton area. Not all Councils fault.

Councils have been cut and eviscerated by Tory governments. So don't have the staff to respond to residents queries on planning and licensing issues. Basically business and property owners can get away with a lot if so minded.

Combination of Tory governments property owner friendly policies, A New Labour Council who love the Nu Brixton, BID concept that business should run areas.

Brixton BID really irritate me. Its like they run area and I should be grateful.

More to the point is the grey area between A3 and late night drinking entertainment.

The Chip Shop is example.

Once the offices of Brixton Cultural Archives. When they moved change of use to take away. Chip shop came as restaurant. Got drinks license. Basically operates as a music / drinks establishment but technically still a chip shop. Which is of course bollox.

In reality the local residential community has little real say in how the neighborhood develops. Even less now Brixton BID runs Brixton in partnership with Lambeth Council.

Lack of democratic oversight and community say has increased in Brixton area. Not all Councils fault.

Councils have been cut and eviscerated by Tory governments. So don't have the staff to respond to residents queries on planning and licensing issues. Basically business and property owners can get away with a lot if so minded.

Combination of Tory governments property owner friendly policies, A New Labour Council who love the Nu Brixton, BID concept that business should run areas.

Brixton BID really irritate me. Its like they run area and I should be grateful.

Ordinary Joe who lives around area has less and less real say.

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BID is basically a Labour operation too - the chair even endorsed Labour in the Coldharbour election last year.

Which is to be expected, since Labour is so dominant, but it does grate a bit

Can someone explain the term banquettes?
According to Wikipedia it sounds not merely pretentious, but positively threatening:

Noun. banquette (plural banquettes) (military) A narrow area behind a defensive wall's parapet elevated above its terreplein and used by defenders to shoot at attackers. A bench built into a wall, especially (military) one built into a wall of a defensive trench, used for sitting and for shooting at attackers.

Can someone explain the term banquettes?
According to Wikipedia it sounds not merely pretentious, but positively threatening:

Noun. banquette (plural banquettes) (military) A narrow area behind a defensive wall's parapet elevated above its terreplein and used by defenders to shoot at attackers. A bench built into a wall, especially (military) one built into a wall of a defensive trench, used for sitting and for shooting at attackers.

Black Bear Burger, which has been slinging buns in Giant Robot in Canary Wharf, is opening its first proper restaurant in Brixton Village this autumn. The Brixton outpost of BBB will serve up the same signature burgers, made from grass-fed and dry-aged British beef, as well sides like skin-on fries, poutine, chicken wings and nuggets with buffalo and blue cheese sauce.

It’ll also be home to some new dishes like chicken and vegan burgers, brisket spring rolls and smoked BBQ specials. And for the first time, Black Bear Burger will serve booze, so you can sip on cocktails, beer jugs and shot skis alongside your buns.

Can someone explain the term banquettes?
According to Wikipedia it sounds not merely pretentious, but positively threatening:

Noun. banquette (plural banquettes) (military) A narrow area behind a defensive wall's parapet elevated above its terreplein and used by defenders to shoot at attackers. A bench built into a wall, especially (military) one built into a wall of a defensive trench, used for sitting and for shooting at attackers.